Best liquid-free products for your carry-on (and your home)

Here are four solid alternatives to common carry-on liquids

No matter the destination, these bars and tabs remain a constant in my “essentials” checklist. They reduce the amount of liquids in carry-on luggage, allowing more flexibility with the 1L limit (maybe you want a specific face sunscreen in liquid format, but are fine with your body sunscreen being solid). They also often come in plastic-free packaging, reducing impact on the environment.

1. Solid Creams (Sunscreen, Moisturizers, etc)

Without a checked suitcase, your 1L bag can fill up fast with essential liquids like sunscreen or moisturizers. Luckily, there are more and more options for these in solid form, so they can be packed into your carry-on without worry. A bonus is that some of these have plastic-free packaging!

2. Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

If you will be doing any travelling that is not hotel-based, bringing your own shampoo and conditioner may be necessary. This is where the bars come in! Personally, was skeptical at first – how could a solid bar clean or condition my hair as well as a liquid option? As it turns out, a bar can do it very well! As with liquid shampoos, there are different brands catering to specific needs. Shampoo & conditioner bars are long-lasting (I’ve been travelling with the same LUSH bars for the last 3 trips) and can be cut into smaller pieces, if needed.

3. Toothpaste Tablets

Yes, even your toothpaste now comes in tablet form! Save a bit of space in your 1L liquids bag by opting for a small container of toothpaste tablets instead. There are many options out there, some with fluoride and some without.

4. Laundry Detergent Strips

They’re thin, they’re not messy (unlike powdered detergent), and they clean your clothes! There are many brands to choose from – the ones I use are from TruEarth and have worked very well for me while travelling and while at home.